Singapore Overview

Local knowledge

Taxis

Easy to hail on the street, cabs are a very economical way to get around, although you’ll pay more in a ‘premium’ Mercedes taxi or London-style Hackney cab. There are also various surcharges added for journeys in rush hour, at night, on public holidays or to certain destinations. In busy central locations (such as Orchard Road), you’re better off going to a rank, although some shops and most restaurants will ring a taxi for you.

Tipping culture

Tipping is not really the norm in Singapore; bars and restaurants usually add a 10 per cent service charge to the bill so there’s no need to add any extra cash.

Siesta and Fiesta

Shops are usually open from about 10am till 9pm, although die-hard shopaholics will be delighted to learn that the Mustafa Centre in Little India is open 24 hours a day. Restaurants are often closed on Mondays.

Packing tips

It’s hot, hot, hot and humid, so aside from all the ‘S-ssentials’ (sunglasses, swimwear and sunscreen) bring your best sandals, mules and flip-flops: shoes will feel way too clammy. Little-nothing tops and shorts will get you through from day to night. Mosquito repellent will fend the little blighters off, but if you do get bitten, Singapore’s famous Tiger Balm will soothe any itchy bits. Pack yourself a portable fan and you’ll be the smuggest tourist in the taxi queue; perversely, you’ll want an evening wrap to keep the air-conditioning chill at bay in big malls and restaurants.

Recommended reads

Paul Theroux’s entertaining Saint Jack follows a hapless expatriate as he stumbles around finding his feet in 1970s Singapore; futuristic Mammon Inc by Hwee Hwee Tan pits Western materialism against Eastern idealism; Makansutra, the street-food guide, will direct you to the best hawker stalls in Singapore – grab a copy at any local bookshop.

Cuisine

Singapore is renowned for its cosmopolitan dining scene. Chinese, Malay and Indian culinary traditions exist side by side and can be sampled everywhere from the hawker street-stall centres selling Mee Goreng and oyster omelettes to formal restaurants offering elegant, modern fusion creations such as foie gras with Peking duck. For something truly unique, seek out the cuisine of the Peranakans (Nyonyas or Straits Chinese), a sophisticated blend of Chinese and Malay flavours.

Currency

Singapore dollar (SGD); £1 converts to about S$3.

Time zone

GMT +8.

Dialling codes

Country code for Singapore: +65.

Do go/don't go

Singapore is in the tropics and is generally hot, humid and prone to sudden downpours all year round, but the rainiest months are October–January. In a country where shopping is the national pastime, it makes sense for the sales to be exceptional: May–July brings the Great Singapore Sale, an eight-week retail extravaganza with huge discounts in all major shops (www.greatsingaporesale.com.sg). Pick up a Tourist Privilege Card from any visitor centre and you’ll get extra discounts on attractions and in participating outlets.